What's the Deal with Food Art? The 8 Easiest, Most Adorable Food Creations for Kids

Eep! The kids are heading back to school and so begins the quest to pack lunches that are healthy, delicious and yes, even visually appealing. By now, you've probably heard of food art. Some parents have tapped into their creative side by arranging, molding and sculpting various foods into animals and popular cartoon characters to make meal times more fun and dare I say, more successful?

These findings shed light on how we can support healthy eating using age-appropriate strategies and remind us kids don't always like the same things grown-ups do.

So does food art actually work? Does that mean I have to become a food artist?

Food writer, Jess Thompson, admits her son doesn't always give into her edible creations. But by integrating creative, kid-friendly surprises here and there, she's noticed changes in her son's palate and how much fun he derives from not only his own lunch but also from the play that emerges between friends who share food.

But, this doesn't mean you have to learn how to create a masterpiece every day. Here are some of the easiest, most adorable, gluten-free and vegan food ideas for kids. No fancy sculpting tools or food markers required!

1. Chicken & Pesto Caterpillars

Remember our Pulled Chicken & Pesto Wraps? Add the chicken to the food processor with your pesto for an ultra creamy spread. Roll it up in brown rice tortillas and slice into kid-friendly pinwheels! Try other spreads, such as avocado-egg salad, pureed chickpeas and roasted red pepper, or tuna blended with kale and apple. So many possibilities!

5. Acai Bowl with Apple Sharks

These acai bowls are packed with nutrition and can be super fun to eat when transformed into a dramatic shark scene. Let your kids choose what other toppings or elements they want to add to the show. Same idea can apply to green smoothies, oatmeal or even soup!

6. Butterfly Quesadillas

Stuff some brown rice tortillas with your favourite fillings to create these butterfly quesadillas. Use a row of grapes, celery or carrot sticks for the body.

7. Blueberry Banana Bear Muffins

These little guys take almost no skill. Just stick banana slices, organic dark choco chips (or blueberries) and almonds into any muffin recipe. Voila! Bear muffins. Get the original recipe for this Gluten-Free Blueberry Banana Bread here and split the batter into muffin liners.